Echoes of the Past
The end of the class… did not mean the end of the day.
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— All of you will proceed to the Grand Auditorium.
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The professor's voice echoed through the room.
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— This will be a joint class.
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Murmurs immediately spread.
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— Classes F through S.
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A subtle pressure settled in the air.
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— Today…
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A brief pause.
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— you will have your first exposure to the Fragments of the Past.
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Silence.
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Laylah slightly raised her gaze.
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— So it's starting already…
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She murmured.
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Remiel remained silent.
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But attentive.
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The Grand Auditorium of the Academy of Destiny was… immense.
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Structured in rising tiers.
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Hundreds of students were already present.
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Energy.
Presence.
Pressure.
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Different classes.
Different levels.
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But at that moment—
everyone was gathered together.
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Remiel walked beside Laylah.
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Gazes followed them from every direction.
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— That's him…
— The one who fought the professor…
— Straight into Class B…
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He ignored them.
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Laylah did too.
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— Try not to attract more attention than you already have.
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— It doesn't depend only on me.
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A simple reply.
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She let out a faint smile.
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At the center of the auditorium—
a single professor stood.
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Older.
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His presence… heavy.
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— Silence.
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The word wasn't loud.
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But it was enough.
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Everything stopped.
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He slowly raised his hand.
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And then—
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A light appeared.
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At the center of the auditorium.
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An object floated.
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Crystal-like.
Transparent… yet deep.
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Inside it—
fragments.
Scenes.
Shadows of something that had already happened.
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— This…
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The professor spoke calmly.
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— is a Memory Fragment.
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Murmurs rose.
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— Also known as…
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A brief pause.
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— an Experience Core.
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The name echoed across the auditorium.
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Remiel's eyes focused on it.
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Something… reacted.
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Slightly.
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— These fragments are not natural.
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The professor continued.
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— They are residues left behind by events of the past.
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The light inside the crystal pulsed.
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— Battles.
— The fall of empires.
— Ascensions.
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The atmosphere shifted.
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— Moments where the flow of history… was intense enough to leave marks.
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Silence.
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— And we…
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He stepped forward.
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— learn from those marks.
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Laylah crossed her arms.
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— Now it gets interesting…
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Remiel didn't look away.
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— How does it work?
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A direct question.
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— You enter it.
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Laylah answered.
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— Not physically.
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She pointed at the crystal.
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— Your consciousness is pulled in.
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The crystal glowed brighter.
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— You relive a fragment of the past…
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A pause.
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— as if you were there.
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The professor continued.
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— Inside an Experience Core…
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— you are not yourselves.
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Murmurs intensified.
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— You take the role of someone from that moment.
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— A soldier.
— A mage.
— A survivor.
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Remiel analyzed.
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— And if you die?
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The professor looked directly at him.
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— You return.
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Without emotion.
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— But you feel it.
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Silence.
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— Pain.
— Fear.
— Despair.
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The auditorium grew heavier.
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— Everything.
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Laylah let out a quiet breath.
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— First time is always the worst.
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The professor raised his hand again.
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The crystal reacted—
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And then—
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Images began to form inside it.
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A battlefield.
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A dark sky.
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Flames.
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Screams.
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— This is a simple fragment.
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He explained.
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— A battle from the Black Dragon Era.
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Remiel froze for a brief moment.
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— Dragon…
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Something deep within him stirred.
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— Your objective is simple.
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— Survive.
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A pause.
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— And understand.
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— Upon completing the fragment…
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— you gain experience.
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Murmurs spread.
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— Not just energy.
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He corrected.
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— Knowledge.
— Instinct.
— Technique.
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Laylah added quietly:
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— As if you had lived it yourself.
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Remiel remained silent.
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But his mind…
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was connecting.
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— There are levels.
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The professor continued.
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— Common fragments.
— Rare ones.
— And…
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A pause.
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— Inheritances.
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Absolute silence.
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— Fragments that belonged to powerful existences.
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— Where you don't just learn…
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A pause.
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— you inherit.
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— Today…
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The professor declared.
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— you will enter.
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The entire auditorium fell silent.
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— Form groups of three.
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Murmurs erupted.
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Laylah looked at Remiel.
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— Looks like you're not getting away from me.
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— I never tried.
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Calm response.
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Before anyone could move—
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— One last thing.
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Silence again.
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— Inside the Core…
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His voice lowered.
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— the past does not lie.
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A pause.
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— But it may… reveal what was forgotten.
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Remiel felt it.
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Something inside him—
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responding.
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For a brief moment—
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the crystal changed.
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And he saw—
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chains.
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Darkness.
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And eyes.
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Ancient.
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Watching.
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He blinked.
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Everything returned to normal.
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— …
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Silence.
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— So…
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He murmured internally.
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— it begins now.
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The past was about to open its doors.
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And perhaps—
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for the first time—
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Remiel would find…
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a part of himself.